posted 11-18-2002 08:53 PM
My most expensive space collectable is a 50th anniversary Questar Standard telescope, production number 19 in a limited run of 250.

The Questar Standard was the first telescope to fly on a manned space mission (Gemini 5 with Cooper and Conrad).

Arthur Clarke owns one and was using it to view the moon at the same moment LUNA II became the first man made object to strike another world. Unfortunatly he didn't see the impact but you can read about it in the post Apollo preface to his book PRELUDE TO SPACE.

This is what I have discovered about the Questar, when I set it up at public star parties it attracts children and their parents. I think this is because the Questar is so small that it looks child sized and less intimidating then the big scopes.

But the real shock comes when people look through it. It's a little optical masterpiece and even novices realize that when they see what it can do.

Even though it cost a lot of money, $6,800 I think it's worth it because It's somthing I'm able to share and enjoy with strangers, children and their parents and almost everyone is extreamly impressed.

P.S. Although an incredable scope it can't do what Gordon Cooper claimed it could in his book LEAP OF FAITH. He said he could see and photograph the licence plates of parked cars from orbit. I don't think even the HST can do that!

RodinaNew Member

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posted 11-18-2002 11:25 PM
You pretty much can't spend too much on optics, for my money. (Well, you can if you buy at the wrong place, but if you buy from a reputable dealer - the more money in, the more benefit out)

RodinaNew Member

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posted 11-18-2002 11:26 PM
By the way, what airport are you based out of as a CFI?

Gordon ReadeNew Member

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posted 11-19-2002 12:18 AM
I'm based out of Palo Alto Airport. We get the rich Sillicon Valley people as our students. There are still quite a few left.

RodinaNew Member

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posted 11-19-2002 12:21 AM
Cool. My brother commutes from Concord to Palo Alto every day in a 1953 170. N(something)210C and I, myself, earned my license at San Carlos about 10 years ago.

Gordon ReadeNew Member

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posted 11-19-2002 12:56 AM
A 1953 Cessna 170, very very cool. But we have to be careful. People will complain if we talk about anything other then space collectables.